Machine for making cement blocks.



No. 816,613. PATENTED APR. 3, 1906. E. & J. o. SILVA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENT BLOCKS.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T.13,1904.

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No. 816,613. PATENTED APR. 3, 1906.

E. '& J. O. SILVA. MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENT BLOCKS.

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[By/lily TINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENT BLOCKS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 3, 1906.

Application filed October 13, 1904:. Serial No- 228.367-

To all whom it nzay concern.-

Be it known that we, EMANUEL SILVA and JAMES O. SILVA, citizens of theUnited States, and residents of Springfield, Sangam'on county, Illinois,are the first and joint inventors of certain new and useful Improvementsin Machines for Making Cement Blocks, of which the following is such afull, clear, and exact description as will enable those skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use our said invention.

The purposes of our invention are to provide in an apparatus of theclass described a framework or main structure of novel and improvedconstruction; a mold of improved construction; means for propelling saidmold on the main structure; means for retaining the mold in position forpressure; means for applying pressure on the article contained in themold, so as to produce an article of compact and homogenous structure;means to prevent spreading of the mold during the op eration ofpressing; means for guiding and adjusting the device which preventsspreading of the mold; means to facilitate the insertion and removal ofthe mold, and means for removing the core from the mold.

lVith these ends in view our invention consists in the novel features ofconstruction and combinations of parts shown in the annexed drawings, towhich reference is hereby made and hereinafter particularly described,and finally recited in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference letters andnumerals designate like parts in the several views, Figures 1 and 2 arerespectively an end elevation and side elevation of the completemachine. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4is a vertical section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontaltransverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Figs. 6 and 7 arerespectively an enlarged perspective View of one form of the mold andthe follower. Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section-through the moldon the line 8 S of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is an enlarged partial verticalsection through the platen and the core-block and illustrates theposition of the platen relative to the coreblock before the descent ofthe platen. Fig. 10 is an enlarged isometric projection of theright-hand plate supporting the main shaft, the counter-shaft, andconnected parts; and Fig. 11 is an enlarged horizontal transversesection on the line 11 11 of Fig. 1.

The main structure, which is preferably of wood, though any othersuitable material may be used, consists of a base or sill-pieces A,posts A, and cross-pieces A connecting said posts. This main structureis of sufficient strength and rigidity for the use for which it isdesigned.

A bed A adapted to support a traveling platform B, is centrally securedon the main structure and extends a suflicient distance beyond the endsthereof to permit proper travel of the platform. On the upper side ofthe bed A are guide-rails A, which fit in channels a on the under sideof the bed B. The traveling platform B slides on and is guided by therails A A. A shaft E extends transversely across the main frame andturns in suitable bearings e on the frame. The shaft E has a squaredpart e to accommodate a wrench or crank E for turning the shaft.

A spool E is secured on the shaft E. A cord E has its center secured onthe spool E and its ends secured on the under side of the platform B insuch manner that when the spool is turned to the right the left-handpart of the cord winding on the spool will pull the platform to theright and when the spool is turned to the left the right-hand part ofthe cord winding on the spool will pull the platform to the left.

A platen F of suitable material and dimensions slides vertically betweenthe posts A and is guided by V-shaped guides at on the posts, which fitin corresponding grooves f in the ed es of the platen. A screw-threadedshaft (i, one half of which has a right-hand thread and the other halfof which has a lefthand thread, turns in bearings on plates G the platesbeing vertically slidable on the posts A.

Parallel beams A extend across the upper end of the main frame and aresecured on the cross-pieces A A plate G, having a central opening g, iscentrally secured on the under side of the beams A A vertical bar F issecured in a central position on the platen F and slides freely in thecentral opening g of the plate G. Nuts G on the shaft G travel toward oraway from each other according as the shaft G is turned to left or theright. Toggle-arms G in pairs are pivotally connected with the plate Gand the nuts G and similar toggle-arms are pivotally connected with theplaten F and the nuts G When the screw-shaft G is turned in onedirection, the toggle-arms act to raise the platen and when it is turnedin the opposite direction the toggle-arms act to move the platendownward. The shaft G extends through a slot through the bar F, and theslot permits the bar to move vertically without striking against theshaft. Plates or washers g secured on the shaft G on each side of thebar, guide the vertical movement of the bar. A spur-wheel G and aspur-pinion G are secured on the shaft G. One end of a countershaft K,Fig. 5, turns in a bearing g on the right-hand plate G and its other endturns in a box 9 at the upper end of a bracket G integral with the sameplate. In order that the shaft G may have slight vertical movement toaccommodate itself to the movement of the toggle-arms, the plates G onwhich the shaft is mounted, are connected with the osts A, so that theplates may slide vertica ly to permit proper vertical movement of theshaft. The plates G may be connected to the posts by any suitable meanswhich will permit vertical movement of the plates such, for example, asbolts 9 passing through the posts A and through washers 9 which haveelongated hubs fitting loosely in the slots 6 so that the plates willslide on the hubs of the washers. A pulley G is secured on thecounter-shaft K and carries a belt by which the machine is driven.Spurpinions G and G", Fig. 5, are loose on the shaft K and have clutchmembers 9 and 9 respectively, which are alternately engaged by a doubleclutch member G which slides on a feather on the shaft.

A forked lever K is mounted on a bracket K Its lower end fits in acircumferential groove around the-central clutch m ember G and byshifting the lever K the clutch mem ber may be slid to the right or theleft to engage the clutch members 9 or g to turn the wheels G or G, asmay be desired. A spur pinion G is mounted to turn on a stud g on theright-hand plate G The cog-pinion G intermeshes with the cog-wheel G andthe cog-pinion G When the clutch member G is engaged with the clutchmember 9, the spur-pinion G turns with the shaft K and meshes with anddrives the spur-wheel G on the shaft G, thereby turning the shaft G andcausing the toggle-arms to operate to push the platen F downward. If thelever K be then shifted to disengage the clutch member G from the clutchmember 9 and engage it with the clutch member g the pinion G will runloose on the shaft and the spur-wheel G will turn with the shaft anddrive the pinions G and G to turn the screw G in a direction opposite tothat in which it first turned and cause the toggle-arms to operate toraise the platen. It will be seen then that the movement of the platenmay be reversed at any time merely by shifting the lever K.

A laterally-movable clamping-plate H has parallel horizontal guide rodsor stems h secured at right angles to the plate at suitable distancesapart. A plate h, secured on the plate H midway between the horizontalguide-rods it, connects the plate-adjusting screw H with the plate H. Abar H secured on the main frame, is pierced by transverse holes hthrough which the guide-rods it move freely, and also has acentrally-screwthreaded hole 71/3, in which the screw H fits. The screwH turns in the hole 7L3 and the plate H may be pushed inward or drawnoutward by turning the screw to the right or left, asthe case may be.The screw H has a squared part it, on which a crank E fits for turningthe screw. In ractice the squared parts of the shaft E anc the screw Hare of the same size, so that a single crank may be used for turningboth. The guide-rods it pass through and slide in guides a on the mainframe. A plate H is secured on the main frame opposite and parallel tothe movable clamping-plate H. The plates H and H are slightly above theplatform B and are so situated that the plates will bear on thethickened parts of the sides of the mold, as hereinafter explained. Atthe ends of the plate H are gates H, which are connected with the plateby suitable hinges 7%. The gates have L-shaped slots 7L5, whichaccommodate latches 72. which are connected with the ends of the plateH. When the plate H has been slid outward to its full limit, the latchesh on the plate occupy such a position that if the gates H be then closedthe latches 72/6 will enter the vertical m embers of the slots k Pivotedlocking-bars 7L8, mounted on the gates H engage with the hooked ends ofthe latches 7i, which project through the slots 7L5 and secure the gatesin their closed position. When the gates are closed, the screw H may beturned to slide the plate H inward, so as to cause the plate to pressagainst the side of the mold and prevent rupture or breaking of thesides of themold, which might occur if the mold were not suitablystrengthened or reinforced. When the plate H is slid inward or outward,the latches h travel in the horizontal members of the slots 7L5, thuspermitting free adjustment of the plate H relative to molds of differentwidths.

The mold in its preferable form consists of a rectangular wooden boXhaving separable sides, ends, and bottom. The sides M and the ends 1Vrespectively, have reinforcements 'm and m. When the mold is in positionin the machine, the reinforcement m of one end piece lies in contactwith one of the gates H*. A block M of suitable dimensions bears againstthe reinforcement m of the other end plate and against the other gatewhen the last-named gate is closed. The closing and securing of thegates H press the block against the end. piece of the mold, so as tohold the mold firmly and prevent spreading ICO ICS

or longitudinal movement thereof between the gates. When theclamping-plate H is moved .'nward by the turning of the screw H theplate H bears firmly on the reinforcement m on one side of the mold andthe plate H bears on the reinforcement m on the other side of the mold,so as to hold the mold firmly and prevent lateral spreading thereof. Acore-block h 3 of suitable form and dimensions placed within the moldadapts the mold for forming a corner-block. To make a rectangular blockfilling the whole of the mold, the core-block M may be omitted. Hollowblocks of different forms may be made by using correspondingly differentcore-blocks. The bottom plate H has an integral ledge m extendingentirely around the plate. The lower edges of the sides M and the ends Mare supported on the ledge m of the bottom M Plates M having eyes m aresecured on the side pieces M at both ends of one side piece and at oneend of the other. Plates M, which have curved lugs mflfitting in theeyes m are secured on the end pieces M. A latch M pivoted on one of theend plates M, fits in a plate M secured on one of the side pieces M, andserves to connect the side pieces with the end pieces. The follower M ofsuitable form and dimensions, fits in the upper part of the space of themold in which the block is to be formed, and the platen presses on thefollower.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings we have illustrated a follower consisting ofan L-shaped block adapted to be employed in making a cornerblock in amold such as is shown in Fig. 6. It is obvious, however, that the formof the mold and the form of the follower may be va ried at pleasure, itbeing essential only that the follower shall conform to the shape of theblock to be made in the mold with which it is used.

In assembling the mold the bottom M is first placed on the platform B.The side pieces and end pieces are then hooked together and placed onthe ledge of the bottom and are then secured by the latch M In order toexpedite the manufacture of the cement blocks, it is desirable towithdraw the coreblocks coincidently with the raising of the platen. 7eaccomplish this result by means which we will now describe. Averticalstem M is secured in a central position on the core-block M and has atits upper end a spear-head m Doors f hinged on the platen F, overlie across-shaped opening f hen the platen descends, the dart m raises thedoors and the doors then gravitate to their original position. Then theplaten is raised, the upper sides of the doors engage with the underside of the dart m and pull on the stem to raise the core-block out ofthe mold. To detach the core-block from the platen, it is only necessaryto turn the coreblock at right angles to its first position, when thedart may be withdrawn through the space between the doors f and throughthe cross-shaped opening f The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The mold being in position on the platform, as described, isfilled with cement, concrete, or other suitable material to a desireddepth, but not to the full depth of the mold, some space being left toplace the follower partly in the mold and on top of the materialcontained therein. The shaft E is then turned to move the platform B,carrying the mold into a position under and central to the platen F. Thegates H are then closed and latched, a suitable block being placedbetween one of the gates and one end of the mold to prevent longitudinalmovement of the mold between the gates. The screw H is then turned tomove the clamping-plate H inward until it presses firmly against oneside of the mold, so as to hold the mold securely between the plates Hand H The screwshaft G is then turned to cause the togglearms to movethe platen downward and press the follower against the material in themold, so as to produce suitable compression thereof. After the materialin the mold has been compressed and the platen has been raised and thecore-block has been withdrawn the screw H may be turned to move theplate H outward and release the mold. One of the gates may then beopened and the shaft E may be turned to move the platform B to the rightor left, as the case may be, so as to entirely withdraw the mold fromunder the platen F. The mold containing the compressed article may thenbe removed from the platform and another mold substituted, which may bein like manner filled and pressed, and so on as long as the machinecontinues in operation. When the mold containing the compressed materialhas been deposited where the block or other article is to remain toharden, the latch l\ 7 may be raised, and the sides and ends of the moldmay then be easily separated, so as to leave the block on the bottom.

A number of interchangeable bottoms are provided for use with each mold,so that the same side pieces and end pieces may be used over and overagain.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mainstructure having a bed, a platform traveling on said bed, means forpropelling said platform, a stationary plate alongside of said platform,gates connected with said stationary plate, a clamping-plate parallel tosaid stationary plate, means for moving said clamping-plate relative tosaid stationary plate and means for connecting said gates with saidclampingplate so as to permit movement of said clamping-plate betweensaid gates, as set forth.

2. In an. apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mainstructure, a movable platform on the main structure, a fixed platealongside of said platform, a movable clamping-plate parallel to saidfixed plate, means for moving said clamping-plate, gates mounted on saidfixed plate and detachably connected with said clamping-plate, a moldfitting between said fixed plate and said clampingplate and between saidgates, means for holding said mold against movement between said gatesand means for applying pressure to the contents of said mold, as setforth.

3. In anapparatus of the class described, the combination of a mainframe, a bed on the main frame having. longitudinal guides, a shafttransverse to said bed, a spool secured on said shaft, a platformslidable on said bed, cords connecting said platform with said spool, amold-containing device mounted above said platform, a mold in saidmoldcontaining device, means for applying lateral pressure to said mold,and means for applying pressure to the contents of said mold,

as set forth.

4. A mold-containing device, consisting of a fixed member, a movablemember parallel to said fixed member and movable toward or away fromsaid fixed member, means for moving said movable member, gates at theend of said mold-containing device and latches connecting said. gateswith the movable member of said mold-containing device so as to permittransverse movement of said movable member; in combination with amold-supporting device, a mold, and means for applying pressure on thematerial contained in said mold, as set forth.

5. In a mold-containing device, the combination of a stationary sidepiece, a transversely-movable side piece parallel to said stationaryside piece, gates mounted on said stationary side piece and havingL-shaped slots, latches mounted on said gates, hooks secured on saidmovable side piece and projecting through and slidable in the L-shaped.

slots through said gates, said latches engaging with said hooks, tosecure said gate, as set forth.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mainframe, a moldcontaining device mounted thereon and having aclamping-plate movable relative to the mold, guiderods secured on saidclamping-plate at right angles thereto, stationary guides in which saidguide-rods travel, and a screw connected with said clamping-plateinwardly or outwardly, as set forth.

and adapted to move 7. In an apparatus of the class described, thecombination of a main frame, a platform traveling on the main frame, amold-containing device above said platform, a screw-shaft mounted on themain frame, nuts traveling on said screw-shaft, a slidable platen,togglearms connecting said platen with said nuts, a vertical bar securedcentrally on said platen, a stationary plate supported on the main frameand guiding said bar, toggle-arms connecting said stationary plate withsaid nuts, and means for turning said screw-shaft, as set forth.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mainframe, a platform traveling on the main frame, a mold-containing deviceabove said platform, a slidable platen, a vertical bar secured on saidplaten, a stationary plate guiding said bar, a screw shaft havingright-hand and left-hand threads and mounted to turn in bearings on themain frame, nuts traveling on said screw-shaft, toggle-arms connectingsaid nuts with said platen and said stationary plate, a cog-wheel and acog-pinion secured on the screw-shaft, a rotating counter-shaftsupported on the main frame and a pulley supported on saidcounterrshaft,cog-pinions loose on said coun ter-shaft and having clutch members, aclutch member slidable on the counter-shaft and engaging with the clutchmembers of said pinions, and an intermediate pinion intermeshing with acog-pinion on the counter-shaft and the cog-pinion on the screw-shaft,as set forth.

9. A core lifting device consisting of a stem having a spear-head, incombination with a core-block on which said stem is secured, avertically-movable platen having an opening accommodating saidspearhead, and doors mounted on said platen and operated by saidspearhead, as set forth.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mold, acore-block usable with said mold, a stem secured on said core-block andhaving a spearhead, a slidable platen having an opening accommodatingthe head of said stem and gravitating doors mounted on said platen abovethe opening through said platen and separated a suit able distance topermit the withdrawal of the spearhead between said doors and throughthe opening in the platen when the coreblock is turned at right anglesto its original position, as set forth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names, atSpringfield, Illinois, this 17th day of September, 1904.

EMANUEL SILVA. JAMES O. SILVA. Witnesses:

GEO. H. CRAFT, ED. H. HEISBERGER.

